Bishop Bruno: ‘Dispute is Now a Pastoral Issue’

January 5, 2009

With the California Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Diocese of Los Angeles and The Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, said he will personally reach out to the leadership at the three congregations where the majority voted to leave in 2004 over doctrinal disputes.

In a brief interview with a reporter for The Living Church shortly after the decision was announced on Jan. 5, Bishop Bruno said he was “overjoyed” at the verdict and considered all issues at dispute to be decided in their favor. Bishop Bruno said his next step will be to initiate dialogue individually with the clergy and lay leadership of the three churches in the hope that it will lead to reconciliation and perhaps the eventual voluntary return of those congregations to The Episcopal Church.

“I want to see if they are willing to talk; to see if they want to return to The Episcopal Church,” Bishop Bruno said. He added that the offer of dialogue carried no preconditions.

“Attorneys handle legal issues,” he said. “This is now a pastoral issue.” the rest